Category: Marriage and Family

The kids aren't alright, and neither is mom. Exasperated sighs and groans cover each math lesson. Tear drops glisten across those essay rough drafts. Mom's hair is standing on end and there just isn't enough coffee or chocolate in the world to combat her stress or exhaustion. Welcome to notorious November. Mid-year, many of us… Continue reading Encouragement for the Discouraged Homeschooler

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God’s establishment of marriage and family was like all things in His creation—intrinsically good and perfect. The Lord, in His wisdom, knew that a family needed the complementing differences of men and women. Men and women each bring something of great value to their partnership, filling what the other often lacks.
Often those differences, so complementary at times, also cause a good deal of trouble. Our culture loves to hate on fathers and families, so it is up to you and me to counter the culture, starting in our own homes.

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This week officially kicks off our summer vacation! My kids are both elated and scared—elated to be done with early mornings and rushed evenings; scared to lose touch with close friends and favorite teachers. I’ve been working on connecting with parents of friends and getting teachers’ addresses so we can all stay in touch. Even… Continue reading Three Ways to Thrive This Summer

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We take so much care with driver’s training, yet so little care with technology training.
Our electronic devices provide children access to one of the most powerful and dangerous tools of our age—the internet. Occasionally, we are lulled into a false belief that parental controls will prevent our children from being “one of those kids”—those who post inappropriate pictures, suffer from bullying, or get lured away by predators.

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We never like to address the inconveniences of parenting. We don’t like to tell expecting moms and dads, “Sleep now, because you won’t be sleeping for the next few years.” Or, “Enjoy that pre-baby vacation because it’ll be awhile before vacations are relaxing.” It all sound so “glass-half-empty,” doesn’t it?
Here’s the reality: Raising children is inconvenient, but it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. When the Lord blesses us with children through adoption or birth, He has entrusted a young soul into our care for teaching, training, and affection. Your plans are going to be interrupted, and at what seems like the worst moments!
How do we react to these interruptions?

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Note from Elihu: I had originally planned to share this post on Monday, but in the aftermath of Sunday's tragedy, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Vegas weighed heavy on my heart. I wrote this article for The Courage last week and watched the comments pile up on Kirk Cameron's Facebook post---many of which… Continue reading Are Educational Decisions Dividing the Church?

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"Mom, I need to get a zipper binder and headphones." "Dad, my teacher said my pencil box isn't big enough. I need another one" "Mom, I have to have a zipper binder too." My head was spinning. It was only the first week of school, and on top of the lengthy list of supplies we'd… Continue reading What Our Children Need Most

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The month of July marked twelve years of marriage for us. This past Tuesday, we cuddled up on the couch to watch the first lesson in The Heart of the Family course. As we listened to Kirk and Chelsea Cameron talking about their story, it caused me to reflect on our own marriage. I remember how often we were… Continue reading If You’re Going Through A Dark Valley In Your Marriage

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So many families have no choice but to be dual-income. With the cost of living rising faster than wages and divorce rates elevated, many parents are unable to volunteer in their kids' classes. Some parents have to put their kids into after-school care with people they don't know all that well. Homeschool parents also get overwhelmed, particularly if they have children with developmental, physical or behavioral disorders. Grandparents, retired from full-time work, can play a valuable role in the lives of their grandchildren while providing some much needed help for their children.